Sliver supply device for spindleless spinning



Aug. 15, 1987 c DOUDLEBSKY ETAL 3 5 SLIVER SUPPLY DEVICE FOR SPINDLELESS SPINNING Filed June 29, 1966 United States Patent 3,335,558 SLIVER SUPPLY DEVICE FOR SPINDLELESS SPINNING Ctibor Doudlebsky and Arkadij Barsukov, Usti nad Orlicr, and Jiii Nmec, Kostelec nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia, assignors to Vyzknmny Ustav Bavlnarsky, Usti nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia Filed June 29, 1966, Ser. No. 561,621 Claims priority, application Czechoslovakia, Nov. 17, 1965, 6,845/ 65 12 Claims. (Cl. 5758.95)

The present invention relates to a sliver supply device for supplying a sliver or roving to a rotary spinning chamber, and more particularly to a device for separating and combing the fibers of the sliver or roving, and conveying the fibers into the interior of a rotary spinning chamber in which a yarn is spun in a continuous spindleless operation.

Various methods are known for transforming a relatively thick sliver into a fine ribbon or roving of fibers from which a yarn is produced. This attenuation is most often effected by drafting mechanisms provided with drafting rollers which, however, are incapable of assuring the highest quality of the product at a high operational speed so that the regularity and uniformity of the manufactured yarn is unsatisfactory. Furthermore, at an increased drafting speed, lap formation may take place which means the sticking of the fibers to the drafting or cleaning rollers. Such lap formation is very undesirable particularly in high speed drafting mechanisms, since it may cause damage to the mechanism if the attendant is not attentive to stop the machine immediately when lap formation takes place.

Various fiber separating devices have been proposed for continuous spindleless spinning devices. However, as far as the transport of the fibers to the combing means and the separating of the fibers for the spinning operation proper are concerned, these devices do not accomplish fully the perfect guiding of the sliver, or the control of the fibers during the separating operation, and the possibility of lap formation on the feed roller still is present, the main cause being that the distance between the combing roller and the feed roller is considerable.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known sliver supply devices and fiber separating devices for spindleless spinning apparatus, and to improve the manner in which the sliver is supplied to a rotary spinning chamber.

Another object of the invention is to assure a reliable separation of the fibers and to prevent any lap formation on the feed roller.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sliver supply device in which a feed roller and a combing roller are provided adjacent each other in an inlet passage leading to a rotary spinning chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide access to the feed roller and combing roller when servicing is necessary.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a device for supplying and guiding a sliver or roving into a rotary spinning chamber. One embodiment of the invention comprises supporting means having a cavity with an outlet and an opening; a feed roller and a combing roller located in the cavity adjacent the opening; and a closure member movable between an operative position closing the opening, and an inoperative retracted position permitting access to the cavity through the opening.

The closure member has two surface portions respectively confronting the feed roller and the combing roller in the operative position and forming with the same a passage communicating with the outlet. The closure memice her is formed with an inlet channel for a sliver or roving opening into the cavity in the region of the feed roller so that a sliver is transported by the feed roller to the combing roller and combed fibers are discharged through the outlet. In the inoperative position of the closure member, the feeding and combing rollers and the inlet passage are accessible for inspection and servicing.

A spring loaded pressure member preferably guides the sliver in the region of the feeding roller, and the surface portion of the closure member which confronts the combing roller matches the peripheral contour of the latter and is formed with a groove whose cross-section diminishes in the direction of movement of the transported sliver so that the combed fibers are supplied to the spinning chamber in a stream thinner than the sliver.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pressure member is pivotally mounted in a recess of the closure member which is pivotable about the same axis as the pressure member. The pressure member has a cutout into which a projecting portion of the closure member containing an inlet channel projects so that the sliver is sup- .plied to a gap between the feed roller and the pressure member. At the point at which the sliver approaches the combing roller, a groove is provided the cross section of which gradually decreases in the direction of rotation of the combing roller so that the fibers combed out by the combing roller are arranged in a stream which is thinner than the sliver or roving supplied to the feed roller.

The novel features which are considered as charac teristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another part of the embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, a feed roller 4 and a combing roller 2 are mounted on supporting means 1 adjacent each other and rotate in the same direction of rotation, as indicated by arrows. Combing roller 2 has wire teeth or needles 3 which extend into close proximity of the periphery of feed roller- 4. Feed roller 4 and combing roller 2 are driven by drive means, not shown. Supporting means 1 has a cavity 25 in which feed roller 4 and combing roller 2 are located, and this cavity is open on one side, as best seen in FIG. 3. The opening of the cavity is normally closed by a closure member 6 which is mounted for angular movement on a pivot pin 5 secured to supporting means 1. Closure member 6 has a recess in the region of the feed roller 4, and a pressure member 8 is mounted on pivot pin 5 and located in recess 7. Pressure member 8 has a cutout 9 passing therethrough, and a projection 10a of closure member 6 is located in cutout 9. An inlet channel 15 for a sliver or roving passes through closure member 6 and has an opening at the end of projection 10a located in the region of the periphery of the feed roller. Inlet channel 15 tapers toward the end of projection 10a.

A spring 11 is located in a bore 11a of closure member 6 and acts on a pin 12 which has a head 12a normally abutting a shoulder 11b. The free end of pin 12 abuts the end of the pivotable pressure member 8 which has a curved surface 8a matching the contour of the feed roller, but being spaced from the same a small distance in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 since pin 12 is not permitted part of the to move far enough to press pressure member 8 against the feed roller. However, when a sliver 15 is supplied through the inlet channel 10 and transported by feed roller 4 through the gap between the same and the guide face 8a, pressure member 8 yields resiliently when a thicker portion of the sliver passes through the gap.

Closure member 6 has a portion 6a extending into the proximity of feed roller 4 and combing roller 2, and having two curved surface portions 141 and 142 which respectively match the peripheral contour of feed roller 4 and combing roller 2 as closely as possible without touching the rollers.

As best seen in FIG. 2, surface portion 142 is formed with a groove 14 tapering in the direction in which the peripheral needles 3 of combing roller 2 move, and opening at the wider end thereof in surface portion 141 which confronts feed roller 4.

When a roving or sliver is transported by feed roller 4 into the region of the combing roller 2, the needles 3 of combing roller 2 move the sliver along surface portion 142 while separating, combing out and orienting the fibers which move along groove 14 so that the sliver is gradually transformed into a thin rope.

The fibers combed and transported by the needles 3 of combing roller 2 are moved into a portion 18 of cavity 25 which generally follows the contour of combing roller 2, and terminates in a tangentially extending channel 20 through which the combed fibers are discharged into a rotary spinning chamber 21 where the centrifugal force moves the fibers onto a circular collecting surface 22 so that a yarn 23 is spun which is guided through an outlet channel 23a to a take-up bobbin 25. Due to the rotation of the spinning chamber 21, air is discharged through openings 21a, and air is sucked through channel 20, cavity portion 18, and an air inlet passage 17 provided in closure member 6 and communicating with an opening 170 in the supporting means 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

Since feed roller 4 has a peripheral portion located in close proximity to a peripheral portion of combing roller 2, without touching the same, feed roller 4 is directly cleaned by the needles 3 of combing roller 2.

In the normal operative position of the device shown in FIG. 1, closure member 6 abuts a surface 16 of supporting means 1, so that the positions of surface portions 141, 142, and 8d are exactly determined in relation to feed roller 4 and combing roller 2. If it becomes necessary to inspect, service or clean the transporting mechanism, or to insert a new sliver between feed roller 4 and pressure member 8, closure member 6 is turned about pivot pin to an inoperative position in which cavity 25 is laterally open so that feed roller 4, combing roller 2 on the supporting means, and pressure chamber 8 and inlet channel 15 on the closure means are accessible.

A locking means 13 is located in a wider portion of bore 11a and is engaged by spring 11. Locking means 13 has a recess 13a into which a pin 13b fixed to supporting means 1 projects through a bore 130 in closure member 6. Locking means 13 locks closure member 6 in the illustrated operative position and can be released when it is desired to swing closure member 6 about pin 5 to the open inoperative position.

It is evident that the invention may be employed with a somewhat difierent combing mechanism in which a direct channel supplies air from the ambient atmosphere to the active surface of the combing roller so that a more effective separation of the fibers is obtained.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of spinning apparatus difiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a sliver supply and guiding device in which the feed roller is cleaned by the combing roller and both rollers are accessible when a closure member is opened, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Sliver supply device for a rotary spinning chamber, comprising, in combination, support means formed with a cavity having an outlet and an opening; a feed roller and a combing roller having adjacent peripheral portions, and being mounted on said supporting means for rotation and located in said cavity adjacent said opening; and a closure member mounted on said supporting means movable between an operative position closing said opening of said cavity, and an inoperative retracted position permitting access to said cavity through said opening, said closure member having two surface portions respectively confronting said feed roller and said combining roller in said operative position and forming with the same a passage communicating with said outlet, said closure member being formed with an inlet channel for a sliver opening into said cavity in the region of said feed roller so that a sliver is transported by said feed roller to said combing roller through said passage in said operative position whereby combed fibers are discharged through said outlet, while in said inoperative position of said closure member, said feeding and combing rollers and said inlet passage are accessible.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said surface portion of said closure member which confronts said combing roller matches the peripheral contour of the latter and is formed with a groove whose cross section diminishes in the direction of movement of said combing roller and of the sliver whereby the combed fibers are supplied to said outlet in a stream thinner than said sliver.

3. A device according to claim 1, and comprising a pressure member mounted on said closure member for movement toward and away from said feed roller and having a curved guide face matching the peripheral contour of the latter and forming a continuation of said surface portion of said closure member which confronts said feed roller, said inlet channel opening into said cavity before said guide face of said pressure member in the direction of rotation of said feed roller so that said sliver is moved by said feed roller along said guide face; means limiting movement of said pressure member toward said feed roller in a guiding position so that said guide face does not engage the same; and resilient means for biassing said pressure member toward said guiding position and adapted to yield when said feed roller transports a thick sliver portion.

4. A device according to claim 3 comprising a pivot means on said supporting means; and wherein said closure member and said pressure member are mounted on said pivot means for angular movement between said positions thereof.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said closure member has a recess opening into said cavity in said operative position thereof; and wherein said pressure member is located in said recess.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said pressure member has a cutout passing therethrough; wherein said closure member has an inlet portion projecting through said cutout into the proximity of said feed roller; and wherein said inlet channel is partly located in said inlet portion and opens into said cavity at the end of said inlet portion.

7. A device according to claim 1 comprising a movable spring loaded pressure member having a guide face confronting said feed roller and a cutout therethrough; wherein said closure member has an inlet portion projecting through said cutout into the proximity of said feed roller; and wherein said inlet channel is partly located in said inlet portion and opens into said cavity at the end of said inlet portion.

8. A device according to claim 7 comprising a pivot means on said supporting means; and wherein said closure member and said pressure member are mounted on said pivot means for angular movement relative to each other and to said feed roller.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said supporting means are formed with'air inlet passage opening into said cavity forwardly of said surface portions in the direction of rotation of said feeding roller and in the proximity of the same.

10. A sliver supply device for separating fibers and for transporting the fibers to a spinning chamber for continuous spindleless spinning; comprising, in combination, supporting means formed with a cavity having an outlet and an opening on one side; a feed roller and a combing roller mounted on said supporting means for rotation and being located in said cavity; a pivot means mounted on said supporting means; a closure member mounted on said pivot means for angular movement, said closure member having a recess communicating with said cavity, and a projecting inlet portion located in said recess, and being formed with an inlet channel opening at the end of said inlet portion into said cavity in the region of said feed roller; and a spring loaded pressure member mounted on said pivot means and located in said recess of said closure member and having a cutout passing therethrough in which said projecting inlet portion is located, said closure member having a surface portion confronting said combing roller and forming a passage with the same communicating with said outlet, said surface portion having a groove whose cross section diminishes in the direction of movement of said combing roller whereby a sliver supplied through said inlet channel is transported by said feed roller to said combing roller so that combed fibers are supplied through said groove to said outlet in a stream narrower than said sliver.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said closure member is formed with an air inlet passage opening into said cavity forwardly of said surface portion and said groove in the direction of rotation of said combing roller whereby air is sucked by the spinning chamber through said air inlet passage and along the combed fibers.

12. A device according to claim 10 wherein said surface portion of said closure member matches the peripheral contour of said combing roller and is disposed in close proximity With the same; and wherein said closure member has another surface portion confronting said feed roller matching the peripheral contour of the same and being located in close proximity with the same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,110,150 11/1963 Kyame et al S7-58.89 3,119,223 1/1964 Meimberg 57-50 3,210,923 10/1965 Schlosser 5758.95 3,295,307 1/1967 Kyame et al 57-58.89

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner. 

1. SILVER SUPPLY DEVICE FOR A ROTARY SPINNING CHAMBER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, SUPPORT MEANS FORMED WITH A CAVITY HAVING AN OUTLET AND AN OPENING; A FEED ROLLER AND A COMBING ROLLER HAVING ADJACENT PERIPHERAL PORTIONS, AND BEING MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ROTATION AND LOCATED IN SAID CAVITY ADJACENT SAID OPENING; AND A CLOSURE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION CLOSING SAID OPENING OF SAID CAVITY, AND AN INOPERATIVE RETRACTED POSITION PERMITTING ACCESS TO SAID CAVITY THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING TWO SURFACE PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY CONFRONTING SAID FEED ROLLER AND SAID COMBINING ROLLER IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION AND FORMING WITH THE SAME A PASSAGE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OUTLET; SAID CLOSURE MEMBER BEING FORMED WITH AN INLET CHANNEL FOR A SILVER OPENING INTO SAID CAVITY IN THE REGION OF SAID FEED ROLLER SO THAT A SILVER IS TRANSPORTED BY SAID FEED ROLLER TO SAID COMBING ROLLER THROUGH SAID PASSAGE IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREBY COMBED FIBERS ARE DISCHARGED THROUGH SAID OUTLET, WHILE IN SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER, SAID FEEDING AND COMBING ROLLERS AND SAID INLET PASSAGE ARE ACCESSIBLE. 